How to Make Stained Glass Crafts Using Crayon Shavings

Shred crayons for pretend stained glass crafts.

Kids and adults alike can make pretend stained-glass sun catchers to hang in the window. This craft project is ideal for recycling the old and broken crayons hiding at the bottom of the box. When shredded, crayon bits become the raw materials for stained-glass art. Best of all, stained-glass crayon crafts require no special art supplies, only materials you may already have at home. Whip up a few stained-glass crafts on a rainy day and enjoy them when the sun comes out again.

Things You'll Need

• Crayons
• Pencil sharpener or cheese grater
• Wax paper
• Paper towel
• Iron
• Scissors
• Hole punch (optional)
• Ribbon (optional)

Instructions

1. Shred the crayons. Kids can help shred by sharpening crayons in a small plastic pencil sharpener, while adults do the more dangerous work of shredding with a cheese grater.

2. Draw a design with a crayon on a sheet of wax paper. Just the outline will do; the crayon shavings will color it in.

3. Sprinkle a thin layer of crayon shavings inside the design. Group the colors in clusters for a stained-glass effect.

4. Lay another sheet of wax paper on top of the crayon shavings. Lay a white paper towel on top of the wax paper.

5. Iron the paper towel with an iron set on low. Keep the iron moving for five seconds, then lift the paper towel and see if the crayon shavings are melted and the wax paper fused together. If not, return the paper towel and iron for another five seconds.

6. Cut around the outside edge of your drawing with scissors. If desired, punch a hole in the top, thread a piece of ribbon through and hang it in the window.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Pretend Stained Glass
• Disney Family Fun; Be My Valentine: Stained-Glass Hearts; February 2002
• Create Stained Glass: Stained Glass Craft Projects for Children

Resources

• Skip to My Lou; Crayon Shaving Hearts; February 2007